September 1918 — Yesterday during the training by the Arditi an American Captain, personally operating a Stokes mortar, was amused like a boy to see his projectiles flying in a wide arc over the waves of the Arditi, and seeing them burst with thunderous crashes on the barbed wire of imaginary enemies. The Arditi, without any fear, rapidly advanced to the ambush, while the artillery shells buzzed over their heads. They then threw, a furious stream of bombs, on the enemy trench, already devastated by the Stokes shells and flamethrowers.

Around the Stokes mortar many American officers were gathered and many Arditi with Major Allegretti. The exercise, for those good Tommys [Sammies], was just wonderful and they were demonstrating their feelings by shouting and laughing loudly.

Suddenly at one Stokes mortar, out of the mouth of the tube, instead of flying to the target, exploded immediately with an immense roar and sowed carnage all around.